While devotees thronged the city to witness the entry of Lord Kallazhagar into the Vaigai as the highlight of the Chithirai festival on Monday morning, a small street predominantly populated by Muslims in Nelpettai was also a hub of activity.
Sungam Pallivasal Street is where most of the devotees proceeded to after the event to get their heads tonsured. Many hair dressers had temporarily occupied the street and offered their services to the devotees who considered it auspicious to offer their hair to the deity on Chitra Pournami.
“None of the residents here have objected to us taking up space and this has been our work spot during the Chithirai festival for many years,” said L. Gopal, a hair dresser who was tonsuring the heads of many devotees.
Many residents in the area too set up temporary shops to sell powdered jaggery and sandalwood paste. “The powdered jaggery is usually kept in pots and camphor is lit over it and shown to Lord Azhagar during the procession. Every year, during the Chithirai festival, we set up shop for a day,” said A. Saleem.
“This is our way of participating in the festival, transcending religious barriers. For us, it is a festival which brings people together, irrespective of religion, caste and community,” he said.
C. Mahaboob, another resident of the street, said that they also sold sandalwood paste for the devotees to be applied on their tonsured heads. “We look forward to the festival every year as the spirit is one of celebration and brings together people from the city and the villages nearby,” he noted.
